Pinterest is embracing body positivity by banning these ads

Pinterest wants to inspire us to embrace our bodies starting with a new ad policy that bans any weight-loss advertisements.

The decision comes after the social media app discovered research done by the National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA), stating a "steep" rise in unhealthy eating habits and eating disorders in young people since last year. Now, people are feeling pressure to reenter their social circles after staying home for around 15 months.

To help any combat anxiety and depression that people may be feeling, Pinterest has decided to rid its app of any advertisements that highlight weight loss. Starting July 1, 2021, "Pinners" will no longer see any language or imagery regarding weight loss, testimonials about weight loss or weight loss products, language or imagery that idealizes or denigrates certain body types, references of Body Mass Index (BMI) or similar indexes, and any products claiming weight loss through something worn or applied to the skin.  

Through the advice of NEDA though, Pinterest will still allow ads that promote healthy lifestyles and habits, or fitness services and products as long as they don't focus solely on weight loss. 

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Something as simple as an advertisement for a home health check or understanding the signs of nutrient deficiency are the types of promotions Pinterest seems to be gunning for, and NEDA supports the app for taking charge.

"[NEDA] applauds Pinterest for taking a leadership position as the first platform to prohibit all ads with weight-loss language and imagery. We are hopeful this global policy will encourage other organizations and companies to reflect on potentially harmful ad messages and to establish their own working policies that will create meaningful change," said NEDA interim CEO, NEDA Elizabeth Thompson. 

With a rise in search trends for “body neutrality” Pinterest especially found this to be an essential move as it continues to promote a safe and positive online environment. According to the app's findings, Pinners are searching for “healthy mindset quotes” 13x more, and  “body neutrality” and “stop body shaming quotes” are also up 5x since last year. Also searches for “self-love illustration art” have increased by 63x.

Today, we are seeing a rise in the wellness and body positivity movement. As Pinterest emerges as a leader in the online sphere, we'll just have to wait and see if more social media apps join the "no one-size-fits-all" body movement.